[Adverse events in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit]

Incidence and characteristics of adverse events in paediatric inpatient care: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Adverse events (AEs) cause suffering for hospitalised children, a fragile patient group where the delivery of adequate timely care is of great importance.

OBJECTIVE

To report the incidence and characteristics of AEs, in paediatric inpatient care, as detected with the Global Trigger Tool (GTT), the Trigger Tool (TT) or the Harvard Medical Practice Study (HMPS) method.

METHOD

MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science and Google Scholar were searched from inception to June 2021, without language restrictions. Studies using manual record review were included if paediatric data were reported separately. We excluded studies reporting: AEs for a specific disease/diagnosis/treatment/procedure, or deceased patients; study protocols with no AE outcomes; conference abstracts, editorials and systematic reviews; clinical incident reports as the primary data source; and studies focusing on specific AEs only. Methodological risk of bias was assessed using a tool based on the Quality Assessment Tool for Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2. Primary outcome was the percentage of admissions with ≥1 AEs. All statistical analyses were stratified by record review methodology (GTT/TT or HMPS) and by type of population. Meta-analyses, applying random-effects models, were carried out. The variability of the pooled estimates was characterised by 95% prediction intervals (PIs).

RESULTS

We included 32 studies from 44 publications, conducted in 15 countries totalling 33 873 paediatric admissions. The total number of AEs identified was 8577. The most common types of AEs were nosocomial infections (range, 6.8%-59.6%) for the general care population and pulmonary-related (10.5%-36.7%) for intensive care. The reported incidence rates were highly heterogeneous. The PIs for the primary outcome were 3.8%-53.8% and 6.9%-91.6% for GTT/TT studies (general and intensive care population). The equivalent PI was 0.3%-33.7% for HMPS studies (general care). The PIs for preventable AEs were 7.4%-96.2% and 4.5%-98.9% for GTT/TT studies (general and intensive care population) and 10.4%-91.8% for HMPS studies (general care). The quality assessment indicated several methodological concerns regarding the included studies.

CONCLUSION

The reported incidence of AEs is highly variable in paediatric inpatient care research, and it is not possible to estimate a reliable single rate. Poor reporting standards and methodological differences hinder the comparison of study results.

Safety culture in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: contributions from the multiprofessional team

Abstract Objectives: to analyze the patient safety culture with the multidisciplinary team in a neonatal ICU at a Brazilian maternity. Methods: the safety culture was evaluated by the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC), with a sample of 117 professionals. The questions were divided into 12 domains, classifying them as areas of strength when the percentage was higher than 75% of positive responses. For inferential analysis, Kruskal-Wallis and Chi-square tests were used, considering significant p<0.05 values. Results: the domains ‘organizational learning- continuous improvement’ and ‘teamwork’ were considered as areas of strength in establishing security. Those who needed improvement were: ‘non-punitive response to error’ and ‘staffing’. There was no significant relevance between the crossings of the numbers of positive responses with the professional data, thus showing that the factors did not interfere in the answers given. Conclusions: in view of the results presented, changes are suggested mainly in the aspects related to punitive culture and evaluation of possible reduction of work overload. However, we cannot fail to praise the positive aspects found, such as teamwork, the concern of professionals and managers to bring improvements to promote patient safety.

Neonatal healthcare-associated infections in Brazil: systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) are important causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality in developing countries. We reviewed the incidence and the pathogens involved in HAI among infants admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICU) in Brazil.

METHODS

A search was conducted in the MEDLINE, LILACS and SciELO databases from January 1995 to October 2019. Two authors scrutinized potential articles independently, after one author selected them from screening abstracts from every article flagged as related to neonatal HAI. Then, they were included in the review if they met our inclusion criteria. The studies were evaluated based on a quality score proposed by the authors, rated 0 to 1, with 1 point as the best quality rate. Pooled estimates and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for HAI cumulative incidence and incidence density were calculated, when the same denominators were available, using meta-analysis. A quality effect was applied to the models using the MetaXL software. Heterogeneity was assessed using I² statistics and the Cochran's Q test.

RESULTS

Of a total of 5596 citations identified, 15 studies met the inclusion criteria for this review, which comprised 24,408 patients and 312,744 patient-days. Quality of the studies varied between 0.36 and 1 according to the adopted score, and six (40.0%) studies presented a score of 1. Pooled HAI incidence was 36.1 (95% CI 22.8-50.7) infections and 26.3 (95% CI 18.4-35.0) infected patients per 100 patients. Pooled HAI incidence density was 23.5 (95% CI 16.3-33.9) per 1000 patient-days. Pooled incidence density rates of bloodstream infection and ventilator-associated pneumonia were 13.1 per 1000 catheter-days (95% CI 4.3-40.1) and 7.9 per 1000 ventilator-days (95% CI 1.1-55.5), respectively. A high degree of heterogeneity was observed in all models (I² > 98% and Cochran's Q test with p < 0.05). Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (32.1%), Staphylococcus aureus (13.8%) and Klebsiella spp. (12.4%) were the most prevalent causative bacterial pathogens.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings show high incidence of neonatal HAI in Brazilian NICU; therefore, efforts to standardize the collection and notification of HAI are needed in order to strengthen surveillance in the country and implement preventive measures, routine assessment, and close monitoring of neonates.

Thermoregulation protocol implementation for newborns in surgical procedures

OBJECTIVE

To describe the thermoregulation protocol implementation for newborns (NB).

METHODS

An experimental report, conducted at a neonatal unit in Salvador, Bahia, from January 2016 to January 2017. The Plan, Do, Check, Action cycle guided the construction, implementation and applicability of the protocol.

RESULTS

Implementation of the protocol that allowed the reduction of adverse events due to thermal instability during surgical procedures and introduction of new technologies.

CONCLUSION

The protocol could improve and strengthen the care practices related to safe surgery in newborns.

Nursing errors in the media: patient safety in the window

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the nursing errors reported by the journalistic media and interpret the main implications of this communication for the visibility of this problem.

METHOD

Documental research, qualitative, descriptive and exploratory, with data collected in news reports from Brazil and Portugal, analyzed through hermeneutics with resources of Atlas Software.

RESULTS

We analyzed 112 news items published between 2012 and 2016 that resulted in six categories: Year - highest occurrence in 2012; Age group of the patient - children; Professional category - nurses; Type of error - medication; Outcome - death; Possible attributed cause - occupational conditions.

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

Nursing mistakes are a challenge for the profession, and the way they are communicated by the media is not very explanatory, contributing to a negative visibility of the profession, and to making society insecure. Improving the way they are served in the media contributes to the visibility of the problem without affecting the professional image.

Wearing identification wristbands: implications for newborn safety in maternity hospitals

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze the wearing of identification wristbands in newborns admitted in a public maternity hospital, regarding patient safety. Method: descriptive study, of the survey type, carried out in a reference public maternity hospital, through observations and interviews. Two hundred and sixty newborns were included. Results: 15.4% of the newborns had no identification wristbands, and 18% of the wristbands had data that did not match with the medical records. 90.9% of the wristbands were easily accessible for checking; however, in 80.9% of the cases, the wristband was not checked before the nursing procedures, and the mother or caregiver was not instructed on wearing the wristband in 76.8% of respondents. Conclusion and implications for practice: there should be training of the nursing team and other health professionals on the placement and daily checking of wristbands, considering international protocols and recommendations regarding patient safety.

Learning from mistakes: analyzing incidents in a neonatal care unit

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze incidents reported in a neonatal care unit. Method: a quantitative, cross-sectional and retrospective study with a sample of 34 newborns. Data were collected through a structured form, composed of two parts: sociodemographic/clinical characteristics of the newborns, and characteristics of the reported incidents. Data were collected from the institution’s computer system, in a period corresponding to 13 months, and analyzed by means of descriptive statistics. Results: the majority of the newborns were preterm (70.6%), male (52.9%) and born through caesarean section (76.5%). During the study period, 54 incidents were reported, totaling a frequency of 1.6 incident per newborn. It was found that 61.1% of incidents were related to medicines, 14.8% to accidental loss of tracheal tube and 9.3% to catheter obstruction. Conclusion: analysis of the reported incidents has shown that most incidents refer to the drug process. Information about the incidents can increase the perception of health professionals regarding the impact of their actions.

Clinical usefulness of catheter-drawn blood samples and catheter tip cultures for the diagnosis of catheter-related bloodstream infections in neonatology: A systematic review

OBJECTIVES

Neonatal sepsis is the most frequent health care-associated infection in neonatal units. This study aimed to analyze articles on the clinical usefulness of catheter-drawn blood samples and catheter tip cultures for the diagnosis of intravascular catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) in neonates.

METHODS

A systematic search was performed for studies published from 1987-2017, without language restriction. Observational studies carried out in neonates with CRBSI diagnosed using catheter-drawn blood samples or catheter tip cultures were included.

RESULTS

A total of 412 articles were identified in the databases and 10 articles were included. The 7 studies that evaluated central venous catheter tip cultures and cultures of catheter fragments presented sensitivities ranging from 58.5%-100% and specificities ranging from 60%-95.7%. Three studies that evaluated catheter-drawn blood cultures, paired with peripheral blood cultures, reported sensitivity and specificity of 94% and 71% when evaluated for the differential time to positivity. When quantitative evaluation was performed, the sensitivity and specificity were 80% and 99.4%.

CONCLUSIONS

Most of the studies analyzed cultures from the central venous catheter tip and catheter fragments for the diagnosis of CRBSI in neonatal populations. The results of this review suggest that the analysis of the catheter-drawn blood samples and catheter tip cultures, paired with peripheral blood cultures, are efficient methods for the diagnosis of CRBSI in neonates.

A PARTICIPAÇÃO DA FAMÍLIA NA SEGURANÇA DO PACIENTE EM UNIDADES NEONATAIS NA PERSPECTIVA DO ENFERMEIRO

RESUMO Objetivo: compreender a influência da participação da família na segurança do paciente em unidades neonatais na perspectiva de enfermeiros. Método: estudo descritivo de abordagem qualitativa, realizado na unidade de cuidados intermediários e na unidade de cuidados intensivos Neonatais de uma maternidade pública de Belo Horizonte-MG, tendo 14 enfermeiros como participantes do estudo. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevistas com roteiros semiestruturados, os quais foram submetidos à análise de conteúdo temática. Resultados: os enfermeiros reconhecem a participação da família na segurança do paciente neonatal, porém demonstraram despreparo e pouca compreensão ao lidar com esse familiar no cotidiano de trabalho. Ainda apontaram o acolhimento e a orientação dos familiares como estratégias significativas para o cuidado seguro. Conclusões: acredita-se que inserir os familiares como parceiros críticos e ativos das práticas dos profissionais de saúde seja uma estratégia importante e promissora para a promoção de saúde e segurança do paciente.

Perception of nursing and medical professionals on patient safety in neonatal intensive care units

Objective

To describe patient safety in the perception of nursing and medical professionals of neonatal intensive care units.

Method

Exploratory and descriptive study with a qualitative approach, using the instrument Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture for data collection. Twenty-eight nursing and medical professionals of three neonatal intensive care units in the city of Florianópolis, state of Santa Catarina, participated in the study, from 2013 to 2015. Content thematic analysis was used for data analysis.

Results

The following categories emerged: perception and strategies for patient safety; risk factors that interfere with patient safety; challenges in the communication of errors associated with health care.

Conclusions

Patient safety in the perception of professionals reflected the importance of safe care and the identification of risk factors in work conditions, predisposing to errors. Communication of risk situations, development of safety culture, and qualification are of utmost importance.

Conhecimentos e práticas de manuseio de incubadoras neonatais por profissionais de enfermagem

Resumo Objetivo Comparar conhecimentos e práticas de manuseio de incubadoras neonatais por enfermeiras e técnicas/auxiliares de enfermagem. Métodos Estudo transversal, realizado em unidade neonatal de hospital de referência, com dados obtidos por questionário sobre conhecimentos e observação direta, estruturada e não participante, das práticas da equipe de enfermagem no manuseio de incubadoras. Criou-se escore de adequação de práticas realizadas. Resultados Não houve diferença entre os dois grupos estudados, quanto aos conhecimentos sobre manuseio de incubadoras, exceto para o benefício de umidificação, mais citado entre enfermeiras (p=0,040). Comparando-se escores de práticas obtidos isoladamente e considerando o escore total, também não se constatou diferença (p=0,723). Técnicas/auxiliares de enfermagem e enfermeiras realizaram 70% de práticas adequadas ao manusearem a incubadora, proporção baixa, visto tratar-se de hospital de alta complexidade. Conclusão Em geral, não houve diferença entre os componentes da equipe de enfermagem com relação aos conhecimentos e práticas estudadas.

Nasal septum injury in preterm infants using nasal prongs

OBJECTIVE:

to assess the incidence and risk factors associated with nasal septum injury in premature infants using reused and new nasal prongs.

METHOD:

the study was a cohort from an open therapeutic intervention. The sample included 70 infants with a gestational age inferior to 37 weeks, who used nasal prongs and were hospitalized at the neonatal service of a hospital in Recife-PE, in the Northeast of Brazil. The data were collected in patient files through the assessment of the application of the device and of the nasal septum. Multinomial Logistic Regression and Survival analyses were applied.

RESULTS:

the incidence of nasal injury corresponded to 62.9%. In the multiple analysis, only the length of the infant's treatment was a determinant factor for the occurrence and severity of the injuries.

CONCLUSION:

the type of nasal prong does not serve as a risk factor for the nasal injury. The high incidence of nasal injury indicates the need to adapt the nursing care with emphasis on prevention.

Medication reconciliation as a strategy for preventing medication errors

ABSTRACT One of the current barriers proposed to avoid possible medication errors, and consequently harm to patients, is the medication reconciliation, a process in which drugs used by patients prior to hospitalization can be compared with those prescribed in the hospital. This study describes the results of a pharmacist based reconciliation conducted during six months in clinical units of a university hospital. Fourteen patients (23.33%) had some kind of problem related to medicine. The majority (80%) of medication errors were due to medication omission. Pharmaceutical interventions acceptance level was 90%. The results suggest that pharmacists based reconciliation can have a relevant role in preventing medication errors and adverse events. Moreover, the detailed interview, conducted by the pharmacist, is able to rescue important information regarding the use of drugs, allowing to avoid medications errors and patient injury.

Evaluation of the patient safety culture in neonatal intensive care

This quantitative, survey type study aimed to analyze the patient safety culture of the nursing and medical teams of public hospitals of Florianopolis. A total of 141 professionals participated, with data collected between February/April 2013, after approval by the Ethics Committee. The Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture was used and the 12 dimensions of the culture were evaluated. Descriptive analysis was performed, classifying the dimensions into areas of strength or critical areas. Despite not verifying a specific area of strength, the dimensions with the best evaluation were Supervisor/manager expectations and actions promoting safety and Organizational learning - continuous improvement. The dimensions with the highest percentage of negative responses, identified as critical were: Non-punitive response to errors and Management support for safety. The safety culture in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units presented aspects that could potentially become areas of strength. Cultural changes are necessary, especially in addressing errors.

[Prevalence of nasal septum injury in premature infants using nasal prongs]

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with nasal septum injury in preterm infants in the use of noninvasive ventilation. A cross-sectional study with data collection between March and July 2012 and with search for records, interviews with mothers and nasal evaluation of 47 premature in the neonatal unit of a teaching hospital in Recife, Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil. A descriptive bivariate statistical analysis was performed through the chi-square test or Fisher exact test using the SPSS software. The prevalence of nasal lesions was 68.1%, associated with low birth weight and duration of treatment. The prevalence of nasal injury in this population is high and associated with low birth weight and length of stay in noninvasive ventilation. Due to these facts the necessity for preventive actions was noticed, such as continuous care in nursing, suitability of devices and permanent education in service.